Welcome to The Song Bar, a sociable establishment where visitors enthuse and share in their music tastes, indulge in civilised discussion and create playlists on a whole variety of subjects. Feel free to drop in anytime. We profile music new and old, but our main event is the song blog, where each Thursday a topic will be set, and readers around the globe nominate and recommend music on that theme, culminating in a playlist compiled by a guest writer on the following Wednesday.

So find yourself a seat, grab a drink, have a read and listen, and if you like it, join in ...– Your friendly Landlord

On the eve of the First World War Armistice centenary, this week we look at songs about striving through extremely difficult circumstances, whether in conflict or peacetime, extreme or daily situations

Strolling, sauntering, strutting, ambling, rambling, hiking and meandering, from a week of walking nominations, these lists by guest ambulatory expert Abahachi will take you through many wonderful countries, genres and gaits

We all walk slightly differently, so this week it’s all about music that expresses various strolls, swings, swaggers, ambles or strides, and whether in politics or personal, marching bands or military, let’s capture the movement of the people

Jon Spencer’s explosive solo to Marianne Faithfull’s gentle honesty, Bill Ryder-Jones love songs to music by the film director David Lynch, this week’s album roundup embraces a wealth of experimentation and styles

Otherworldly is recurring theme in this week’s releases, including Thom Yorke’s soundrack to the Suspiria remake, Julia Holter and Soap&Skin, plus pithy postpunk from Pill, and reinterpretations by Ty Segall

Elvis Costello triumphantly turns back the clock, John Grant at his bitchy, heartfelt best, and a heap of various laid-back and wonderfully eclectic, oddball records come with likes of Connan Mockasin, Kurt Vile, Jerry Paper and more